Stage 4

The fourth stage was unexpected and unwanted. I was dead set against following my father into Baptist ministry. I had married and my mind (and my wife's) was far from ministry.  Yet, in our first year of marriage I underwent escalating spiritual tugs pulling me into full-time service. The process was full of checks and cross checks which included a preach in my own church - a large preaching centre in South London.  On the appointed August Sunday, with minimal preaching experience I spoke to the morning congregation. The minimal experience showed! Yet, for the evening sermon my preparation had immersed me for weeks in John 10: 19-20. Really immersed, so that the divided crowd reactions fired a surprising passion to preach. Some were saying he has a demon while others asserted: ‘These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind’ ?  Caught up in Bible’s dynamic as never before, I preached an evangelistic sermon.  In the middle of preaching I had my one and only experience (so far) of God unmistakeably speaking to me. Suddenly, with intensity and stillness, even while I was speaking, I heard another voice: ‘Michael, I call you to preach.’  It was unforgettable and vocation forging in discerning God's call. I kept the experience private for many years but decades later I have become convinced that this experience was truly of God. 

At theological college studying the Bible took prime place. I actually revelled in learning Greek (Hebrew not so much!) and began the vital task of developing a biblical theology that would undergird my ministry.  I mustn’t exaggerate how much I loved the time I was given to listen to God in the text and engage with his message to me. There was much hard work. On ordination, I became a pastor in two churches - Blackburn for seven years and Cambridge for 14 years.  I was forced into the discipline of preaching twice every week and that began a rigorous engagement with Scripture.  How much I needed to grow in my understanding about listening to God in the Bible and then how to apply God's message to the congregation. My own Bible reading was critical and for several years I used a NIV volume setting out reading the whole Bible within two years. I found this was the best way for me to maintain daily discipline. 

I was surprised that, as I grew in experience, the Lord opened up ministry in writing daily Bible readings and notes, including a weekly column for the Baptist Times and youth material for Scripture Union. The Light for my path was deepening a love of sharing the light for others' paths. All an amazing privilege. Growing work with media also focused on sharing Bible messages.  As Free Church Advisor for Anglia ITV I filmed many epilogues. One series that audiences particularly responded to was my retelling of Jesus' parables in contemporary settings before inviting viewers to find the original passage for themselves.  After 21 years in local church ministry I was then appointed as Principal of Spurgeon's College with the daunting responsibility of helping shape men and women in their call to ministry.